Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
4/14/2022
Observer Name
Staples & Sisk
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon - Smith & Morehouse
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Sporadic very light snowfall with occasional moments of sunshine. Air temps were generally cool. Winds were gusty and still blowing snow off trees at the end of the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Very light snow on top from the night before on top of some much denser powder that kept skis off the hard crust underneath. Snowmobile skis would push through and ride on the hard crust. The snow surface was staying cold but snow several inches down was just getting damp and just starting to stick to our skins.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments
It still amazes me to find the facets from the Jan/Feb dry period. They have gained some hardness (from F- to 4F) and test scores have gone up and we haven't seen avalanches on this layer in about 3 weeks. I wondered if the load of new snow would stress this layer, but it doesn't appear to have done that. There was no collapsing or cracking, and ECT scores did not drop. The scores continue to slowly increase even though they still propagate. With such hard layers of snow and ice above this layer, the odds of triggering a slide on it are very very small.
There's a very noticeable layer of dust (photo below) under the new snow.
By the end of the day, the new snow below about 9000' was getting pretty wet.
Photo below shows the snow several inches deep taking some heat and getting a touch damp as it was starting to stick a little.
Access is getting tough as the snow at trailheads melts but there is still plenty of snow as soon as you gain a little elevation.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates